Search - Compilation :: Beloved: Songs of Devotion to Sri Swami Satchidananda

This CD was produced in honor of the 40th anniversary of His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda's (Sri Gurudev) first arrival in Europe and America in 1966. It was in 1966 that Divine Providence brought Sri Gurudev to the West. Europe was his first stop in April of 1966 and then in July, Sri Gurudev arrived in New York City. The European and American artists included on this compilation CD offer their unique talents, as well as their love, devotion and gratitude on behalf of all of us as our way of saying, Thank you Sri Gurudev, for bringing the gift of Yoga to millions. We created this album to be a musical and mystical journey into Satchidananda. We hope you will be uplifted and inspired by this original music and its message. We pray that Sri Gurudev s Teachings and Blessings may guide us toward an ever-deepening experience of the Beloved. H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev) is one of the most revered Yoga Masters of our time. Sri Gurudev s teachings and spirit guide us toward a life of peace and to religious harmony among all people. Sri Gurudev was ordained as a monk in 1949 by his master, His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, founder of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. From the beginning of his spiritual service, Sri Gurudev was a leader in the interfaith movement. His motto, Truth is One, Paths are Many, is an essential part of his teachings. Sri Gurudev founded and is the guiding light for the worldwide Integral Yoga ® organization. Integral Yoga, as taught by Sri Gurudev, combines various methods of Yoga, including Hatha Yoga, selfless service, meditation, prayer, and a 5,000-year-old philosophy that helps one find the peace and joy within. For more than fifty years, Sri Gurudev sponsored interfaith worship services and conferences. He was invited to share his message of peace with such world leaders and dignitaries as former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush and Bill Clinton; His Holiness Pope Paul VI, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and former Secretary-General of the United Nations U Thant. In 1979, Sri Gurudev was inspired to establish Satchidananda Ashram Yogaville. Based on his teachings, it is a place where people of different faiths and backgrounds can come to realize their essential oneness. A focal point of Yogaville is the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS), which was dedicated in 1986. This unique interfaith Shrine honors the Spirit that unites all the world religions, while celebrating their diversity. People from all over the world come there to meditate and pray. Over the years, Sri Gurudev received many honors for his public service, including the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award and the Anti-Defamation League Humanitarian Award. He was presented with the Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award at the United Nations in 1996. In April 2002, he was honored with the prestigious U Thant Peace Award. Previous recipients of this award include Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela. In addition, he served on the advisory boards of many world peace and interfaith organizations. Sri Gurudev is the author of many books, including Integral Yoga Hatha, To Know Your Self, The Living Gita, The Golden Present and Healing From Disaster. He is the subject of three biographies, Apostle of Peace, Portrait of a Modern Sage and Boundless Giving and the film, Living Yoga: the life and teachings of Swami Satchidananda (to be released in May 2008). In August 2002, Sri Gurudev entered Mahasamadhi (a God-realized soul s conscious final exit from the body). Chidambaram, his Mahasamadhi Shrine is open for prayer and meditation.